Tiger Woods fired an impressive nine-under par 63 on Friday to leap into contention at the Buick Open, following one of his worst putting performances with a solid showing. Woods stood on 10-under par 134 after 36 holes at the five million-dollar event, two adrift of clubhouse leader Michael Letzig - an American seeking his first PGA title - with more than half the field still on the course. World number one Woods put himself in position to complete a “Major Tuneup Slam”, having won all three of his US PGA titles this year two weeks before a major tournament, just as this event is two weeks before the PGA Championship. After sharing 95th place through 18 holes with an opening 71, Woods was in jeopardy of missing the cut in consecutive events for the first time in his pro career. He missed the cut two weeks earlier at the British Open at Turnberry. World number one Woods, the 2002 and 2006 Buick Open winner, began off the 10th tee and opened with back-to-back birdies followed by an eagle at the par-4 12th - pitching in from 41 yards - followed by another set of back-to-back birdies. Woods birdied the par-5 16th, gave back the stroke with a bogey at 18 but answered with a birdie at the first hole and then birdied the par-5 seventh from eight feet and the par-3 eighth from 15 feet. Matthew, Sergas share lead In England, Catriona Matthew of Scotland hit a hole in one in a 5-under 67 Friday to share the second-round lead with Giulia Sergas of Italy at the Women's British Open. Sergas also hit a 67 after making five birdies five on the back nine. Both players have totaled 3-under 141 at Royal Lytham and St. Annes links course. Matthew eagled the 11th and followed up with an ace on the 12th. She then made four more birdies against a lone bogey for a course-record back nine of 7-under 30. Yuko Mitsuka (71) was a shot back in third. Song-Hee Kim (73) was at 143, a stroke ahead of Yani Tseng (70) and Christina Kim (71). First-round leader Sandra Gal of Germany (80) and Angela Stanford (76), who was equal second Thursday, had disappointing rounds. Top-ranked Lorena Ochoa dropped all five shots on the front nine before shooting a 77 to be 8 over but certain to make the cut. Cristie Kerr, the American leader of the LPGA money list, jarred her wrist playing out of a divot at the sixth and went for treatment after her round of 71. Paula Creamer (74) and Michelle Wie (75) had disappointing rounds. Creamer, who made no birdies in her opening 75, had to wait until the 11th hole Friday for her first. Wie took two to get out of a fairway bunker at the last hole before double bogeying. Wie found a few bunkers, just as she had in her opening round.
